Cheng Jiao-niang lifted the veil and listened to the faint sound of crying carried by the wind.
“Is someone crying?” the maid asked from behind, following her gaze.
This courtyard was located at the northernmost part of the Cheng family estate, slightly elevated. Originally, it was used for surveillance and protection, but in times of peace, it was unnecessary.
From their elevated position, the two listened, and the sound seemed to come from the east.
“It’s from the old madam’s place,” the maid said.
“The old madam of the Cheng family?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
“Yes, the old madam doesn’t concern herself with family matters anymore and is devoted to Buddhism. Has something happened?” the maid said, looking in that direction.
Whatever happened, it had nothing to do with her. Cheng Jiao-niang lowered her head and continued walking.
She had one more lap to complete to reach her goal of five laps today.
But she was wrong; this matter indeed had something to do with her.
Old Madam Cheng looked at her two daughters-in-law, both of whom were crying, and felt a splitting headache coming on.
“So, you’re saying that it wasn’t your fault back then, but the eldest still was going to punish you by sending you to the ancestral hall to reflect?” she asked, feeling a bit confused.
Weren’t they just talking about someone getting special treatment with a private kitchen that others didn’t have? How did it turn into this?
Wait, no, at the very beginning, weren’t they talking about who bought a fan? Or was it flowers?
What a mess!
“All of you, be quiet!” Old Madam Cheng slammed the Buddhist prayer beads she was holding onto the table and shouted.
Both daughters-in-law immediately covered their mouths and fell silent.
“I understand now,” Old Madam Cheng said. Despite her gaunt appearance, her spirit was still vigorous as her gaze swept over her two daughters-in-law. “This is all because of that fool.”
Thinking carefully, it really was the case.
Because of the scene caused by that fool’s maid, the Zhou family took the opportunity to make trouble. Second Madam Cheng suffered grievances at that time and became dissatisfied with her.
First Madam Cheng nodded.
Actually, that incident wasn’t the earliest one. If it weren’t for the matter of the dowry left by that fool’s mother, which First Madam Cheng never mentioned, she wouldn’t have felt so aggrieved when the Zhou family made trouble.
But ultimately, it still had to do with that fool.
Second Madam Cheng also nodded, sniffling as she wiped away her tears.
“What a disgrace! For such trivial matters, you, who are all older than I am combined, come to make a scene in front of me!” Old Madam Cheng snorted. “First Madam, you were wrong. Why didn’t you come forward and admit your mistake back then?”
“Yes, Mother, I was wrong,” First Madam Cheng said, bowing.
“Second Madam, why did your brother say you were wrong? It wasn’t that he didn’t know the truth; rather, the Zhou family was unaware,” Old Madam Cheng said. “At times like that, do you really need to figure out who was wrong in front of outsiders? You felt aggrieved because of this, which was indeed wrong!”
“Yes, Mother, I was wrong,” Second Madam Cheng said, wiping her tears and bowing.
Old Madam Cheng exhaled and took a sip of the brewed tea.
“As for those flowers, return them. Flowers and plants are meant to bring joy, regardless of their value. If looking at them makes you happy, they are worth a fortune; if not, they are worthless,” she said.
Second Madam Cheng replied, “Yes, Mother.”
“And for the food, snacks, and fruits provided in each household, don’t be so harsh. The desire for good food is natural. As long as it’s not excessive extravagance, don’t skimp on the food,” Old Madam Cheng said.
First Madam Cheng replied, “Yes, Mother.”
“In our family, the brothers stick together. They might not have much to worry about outside, but you daughters-in-law have a tougher time. Just like how even upper and lower teeth sometimes clash, women often keep things to themselves, bottling up their feelings. What could be resolved with a word can turn into a deep grudge,” Old Madam Cheng said, her expression solemn. “I already know what you are thinking, no need to say it.”
As she said this, her gaze swept over the two daughters-in-law sitting with their heads bowed.
“Whatever you are thinking, the other person knows it too. Even if they don’t realize it today, they will eventually. There’s no such thing as a fool in this world; it’s just a matter of who figures things out sooner and who figures them out later,” she said.
Both First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng bowed their heads and replied, “Yes, Mother.”
Old Madam Cheng let out a sigh.
“Also, get rid of that fool as soon as possible,” she said.
Both First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng were taken aback and looked up.
“Mother, but what if the Zhou family asks about it?” First Madam Cheng said.
Old Madam Cheng snorted.
“They won’t,” she said.
“But just a few days ago, they caused quite a stir because of that fool. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have had any grudges,” First Madam Cheng said.
Second Madam Cheng lowered her head.
“Do you think they caused a scene because of that fool?” Old Madam Cheng glared.
Huh? First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng were puzzled. He couldn’t have caused a scene because of that maid, could he?
“They came here with pent-up grievances, it’s just that they coincidentally found an opportunity to stir things up with that fool,” Old Madam Cheng said. “It wasn’t specifically because of the fool.”
First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng exchanged a glance.
“Why did he take away that maid? Simply because he admired her intelligence and found her pleasing,” Old Madam Cheng said. “You two are so naive. If he really cared about that fool, would he have left after just one night here? Did he ever bother to ask about that fool’s needs and habits?”
First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng suddenly understood.
“You’re feeling uncertain, which diminishes your stature,” Old Madam Cheng said. “What’s there to be uncertain about? That fool belongs to our family, not the Zhou family! She is our child. Are we supposed to take orders from outsiders? If they want to give orders, they should take that fool away!”
First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng immediately straightened up.
Yes, what were they afraid of? She was their family’s child!
“This trouble-making fool, who allowed you to keep her from the beginning!” Old Madam Cheng became angrier as she spoke. “When she returned, she should have been sent to a Taoist temple!”
First Madam Cheng and Second Madam Cheng finally fully understood.
“Because of this fool back then, Father passed away in distress, and Mother holds a deep grudge,” First Madam Cheng said softly.
After leaving Old Madam Cheng’s place, the two sisters-in-law had reconciled, restoring their mutual respect. Second Madam Cheng gently supported First Madam Cheng as they walked together.
“So, Mother won’t budge on the matter of that fool,” nodded Second Madam Cheng.
“Should we then send her away?” asked First Madam Cheng. “But if the Zhou family finds out and questions us…”
“Just as Mother said, their questioning may not necessarily be solely about that fool,” replied Second Madam Cheng. “In life, conflicts usually boil down to two things: reputation and… gain.”
“Reputation and gain?” inquired First Madam Cheng.
“We’ve already had our face-off. The next step could be about gain,” smiled Second Madam Cheng, now holding a bamboo fan instead of ivory, gently patting First Madam Cheng’s hand. “For instance, the dowry.”
Dowry?
First Madam Cheng was stunned.
A maid hurried over and whispered something to Second Madam Cheng.
“That wretch!” Second Madam Cheng gritted her teeth, tightening her grip on the fan in her hand. She forced a smile at First Madam Cheng and nodded in courtesy, “Something urgent has come up. I’ll take my leave.”
With that, she followed the maid briskly and left.
First Madam Cheng remained somewhat lost in thought where she stood.
“Dowry,” she repeated to herself, watching the retreating figure of Second Madam Cheng, finally fully understanding.
“So, it’s about the dowry!” she said with a bitter smile.
“Ban Qin, Ban Qin.”
A shout startled First Madam Cheng.
She remembered that name very well.
“Ban Qin?” she asked. “Isn’t that the maid who went with the Zhou family?”
“No, Madam,” a maid smiled. “It’s the new maid sent to serve Jiao-niang. She renamed her Ban Qin.”
First Madam Cheng didn’t know how to react.
“What a… fool,” she said.
She lifted her foot, but after just a few steps, she heard cries coming from somewhere—very faint and short, as if they were immediately suppressed.
“What now?” First Madam Cheng frowned.
Several maids hurriedly went off. By the time First Madam Cheng returned and sat back inside the room, they returned.
“Second Madam wants to sell one of Second Master’s maids,” they whispered softly.
Madam Cheng grasped the implications without needing further explanation, waving off any additional questions as she rubbed her tired forehead.
It was an unprecedented mess, leaving her feeling utterly drained. Whether it was about reputation or money, people’s motives seemed so shallow—how had she not noticed this before?
Reflecting on it, they truly owed this chaos to the return of that fool. Who would have guessed that one simpleton could bring about so much trouble?
It was like a drop of oil falling into calm water, refusing to blend, yet stirring up the entire surface into turmoil.
That fool couldn’t stay in the household any longer.
